Get Involved
Get eNews
Donate

Birds
Live Cams
Courses
Merlin Bird ID

Donate

Great Black-backed Gull Range Map

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Range Map
Sightings Map

Year-roundBreedingMigrationNonbreeding

Migration

Resident to medium-distance migrant. Populations from Nova Scotia and Massachusetts remain around breeding colonies throughout the year, while birds from Maine, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland, and the mid-Atlantic migrate south along the coast or to the Great Lakes region.

Lynx Edicions/BirdLife International

Learn more at Birds of the World

Compare with Similar Species

Click on an image to compare

Lesser Black-backed Gull

American Herring Gull

Western Gull

Bald Eagle

Looking for ID Help?

Our free app offers quick ID help with global coverage.

Try Merlin Bird ID

Species in This Family

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Laridae)

Little Gull

Ross's Gull

Black-legged Kittiwake

American Herring Gull

Vega Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Glaucous Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Browse Species in This Family

More to Read

My feeders are being overrun with starlings and blackbirds. What can I do?
About Suet, Mealworms, and Other Bird Foods
NestWatchRight Bird, Right House: Guide to Birds and Birdhouses for Your Region
Living Bird MagazineHow Do Birds Survive the Winter?
Living Bird MagazineSnowy Owls Aren't Starving: Two Canadian Farmers Help Bust a Pervasive Myth
How to Clean Your Bird Feeder

About Us
Citizen Science
Lifelong Learning
Publications
Explore More
Support Our Cause

Contact Us
Web Accessibility Assistance
Privacy Policy
Terms of use
Site Credits

Don't miss a thing! Join our email list

The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.